Meeting

The 37th Edward R. Murrow Symposium was a night of celebration for broadcast journalist Ted Koppel and a night criticism for the world of journalism as Koppel began his keynote speech. 

Serious journalism has taken a turn for the worse because it is harder to concentrate on what is important, when everyone is talking at the same time, said Koppel. 

Koppel began his broadcasting career with WMCA Radio New York. In 1963, he became ABC Radio News' youngest correspondent reporting for the daily Flair Reports, covering news like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Koppel has since played a major reporting role in every U.S. presidential campaign. Starting in 1964 with the campaign of Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry M. Goldwater.  In 1966 

Koppel moved into his calling of television broadcast, first reporting on the Vietnam War.  

Since his career began 48 years ago Koppel has received countless prestigious American broadcast industry accolades. Some of which include 41 Emmy Awards, 10 duPont-Columbia Awards, 10 Overseas Press Club Awards, two George Polk Awards, and eight George Foster Peabody Awards. Koppel has also acquired more than 20 honorary degrees from universities in the United States, now including the Murrow Award for Lifetime Achievement in Broadcast Journalism from Washington State University.    

Reminiscing on his choice to become a journalist seeking the truth, Koppel said he always knew he wanted to be a journalist. He looked at Murrow as an admirable news journalist and remembered being a young boy with father listening to his radio news casts of the Blitz. 

However, even Murrow now wouldn't be able to be the Murrow of his time said Koppel. Due to advancing technologies like Facebook and Twitter, anyone can relay information, but that doesn’t make it news, said Koppel. With a society that thrives on speed and instant action, Koppel said  the message and it's impact should be the most important. 

"Media are still just tools inherently neutral to the words and messages they carry" said Koppel.  

Koppel said these instantaneous ways of communicating. Instead  with the public having more input in social media they have been inherently picking what is newsworthy, like Charlie Sheen or the Amanda Knox trial versus overseas controversies, said Koppel.  

"Being a communications major, I know that I am personally worried about the professionalism of my field," said Kayla Longaker, a Washington State student. 

Journalism has become more about giving the public what they want in order to turn a profit, said Koppel. As more television networks like FOX and MSNBC choose a biased approach to news reports, viewers are looking for sources to side with said Koppel.  

Koppel said if the public ever blames journalists for the way media is deteriorating,  they can simply respond "We gave you what you wanted."  

Koppel ended his speech with a silent pause and walked off stage, followed by a standing ovation from the audience. 

"That ending quote is still resonating with me," said audience member and Pullman local Elise Smith over an hour after Koppel's speech.